O.C. sailors react to America' Cup tragedy

May 13, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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The Artemis Racing AC72 catamaran, an America's Cup entry from Sweden, lies capsized after turning over during training in San Francisco Bay on Thursday, May 9, 2013, in San Francisco. Artemis Racing said Andrew "Bart" Simpson, an Olympic gold medalist from Great Britain, died after the capsized boat's platform trapped him underwater for about 10 minutes. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the background. NOAH BERGER, AP

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British 2008 Olympic sailing gold medalist Andrew Simpson, 35, was killed when Sweden's America's Cup entry, the catamaran Artemis, capsized while on a training run yesterday in San Francisco Bay LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Andrew Simpson of Great Britain poses during a portrait shoot at the announcement of the first athletes to officially join Team GB ahead of the 2012 Olympics at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich on September 20, 2011 in London, England. CLIVE ROSE, GETTY IMAGES

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Artemis Racing CEO Paul Cayard speaks during a news conference in Alameda, Calif., Thursday, May 9, 2013. Artemis Racing said Andrew "Bart" Simpson, an Olympic gold medalist from England, died after the platform on the team's capsized catamaran trapped him underwater for about 10 minutes, during training for the America's Cup. JEFF CHIU, AP

The Artemis Racing AC72 catamaran, an America's Cup entry from Sweden, lies capsized after turning over during training in San Francisco Bay on Thursday, May 9, 2013, in San Francisco. Artemis Racing said Andrew "Bart" Simpson, an Olympic gold medalist from Great Britain, died after the capsized boat's platform trapped him underwater for about 10 minutes. The Golden Gate Bridge is in the background.NOAH BERGER, AP

Voices

"A lot of people find sail racing boring, or boring to watch, but this America's Cup is trying not to be. It's good in the respect that new fast boats got publicity in the papers, but its bad now that people are going to see this and say, 'I don't want to go sailing, it's dangerous.'"

Barry Wood, Heritage Yacht Sales, Newport Beach

"Clearly these boats are well beyond anything most people have tried before. Some kept comfort in sailing in a space with land to the north, east and south – in the natural amphitheater, but you're still hitting 40 knots out there, which is well beyond what other boats have dealt with in the bay."

Peter Bretschger, staff commodore, Balboa Yacht Club

"It was sad to see it happen. We felt lucky down here having the Ensenada Race go off this year without a hitch, but this was sad."

Brian White, owner, The Galley Cafe

As word of yet another sailing death came over the news last week – this time in San Francisco Bay – Newport Beach's boating community was once again faced with the painful realization of the dangers of the sport.

The accident occurred Thursday during a practice run aboard Artemis Racing's 72-foot high-tech catamaran that will challenge for the America's Cup this summer. While conducting what was reported to be a difficult maneuver, the boat nosedived and broke apart, trapping gold medalist sailor Andrew "Bart" Simpson under the platform.

Simpson was submerged for 10 minutes and was pronounced dead after efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. He served as the Swedish team's strategist.

The Artemis team is one of three set to challenge Larry Ellison's Oracle Team for the America's Cup trophy. Eleven-member crews will race multimillion-dollar yachts in San Francisco Bay.

"Our prayers are with Andrew Simpson's family, his wife and kids, and also the rest of my teammates," said Artemis Racing Chief Executive Paul Cayard in a press conference. "It's a shocking experience to go through, and we have a lot to deal with in the next few days in terms of assuring everybody's well-being."

At Newport Beach's Balboa Yacht Club, staff Commodore Peter Bretschger said reverberations of the accident were felt quickly in the sailing community. The club hosts the Governor's Cup, a youth racing event that acts as a feeder race for many of the skippers who end up sailing in the America's Cup.

"We feel a terrible sense of loss here, because so many of our contenders go on to compete in the America's Cup," Bretschger said.

Both Cayard and Oracle Racing skipper Jimmy Spithill competed in Governor's Cup races, and Spithill visited Balboa Yacht Club last year to speak to youth sailors about the America's Cup, bringing the 162-year-old trophy with him.

The accident is the latest in a string of fatal sailing accidents off California's coast.

In Southern California, the community mourned the death of four sailors during last year's Newport to Ensenada race when the 36-foot sailboat Aegean crashed into North Coronado Island, followed by this spring's accident aboard the sailboat Uncontrollable Urge, which ran aground at San Clemente Island, killing one. Up north, five of eight crew members were killed in an offshore race aboard Low Speed Chase after the boat capsized near South Farallone Island.

"It really makes people stop and wonder: How far will the sport go in terms of safety while teams still try to reach faster speeds?" Bretschger asked.

Speed was the ultimate drive behind the creation of the 72-foot, ultralightweight catamarans called AC 72s competing in this year's race, and the Artemis' accident is the second time one of the boats has capsized in the bay, but the first to end in a fatality.

In October, Spithill's AC 72 capsized while practicing high-speed maneuvers in San Francisco Bay. Unable to turn the boat upright, sailors watched as the catamaran was swept out to sea under the Golden Gate Bridge due to the tide and broke apart.

"As sailors, we're saddened by it, but not surprised," said Newport Beach-based Heritage Yacht Sales broker Barry Wood. "These boats are high-tech, fast, and very critical as far as sailing ability. But that's how you race boats. You go all-out with Kevlar, carbon fiber and so on. You're really pushing the limit until something breaks."

Simpson, 36, won an Olympic gold medal in sailing in 2008 and a silver medal at last year's games.

"A lot of people find sail racing boring, or boring to watch, but this America's Cup is trying not to be. It's good in the respect that new fast boats got publicity in the papers, but it's bad now that people are going to see this and say, 'I don't want to go sailing, it's dangerous.'"

Barry Wood, Heritage Yacht Sales, Newport Beach

"Clearly these boats are well beyond anything most people have tried before. Some kept comfort in sailing in a space with land to the north, east and south – in the natural amphitheater – but you're still hitting 40 knots out there, which is well beyond what other boats have dealt with in the bay."

Peter Bretschger, staff commodore, Balboa Yacht Club

"It was sad to see it happen. We felt lucky down here having the Ensenada race go off this year without a hitch, but this was sad."

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